Houston resident Carol Daykin is raising concern about a hole in the dike northwest of 6th Street.
Talking to council last Tuesday, Daykin says it’s a major problem and it’s a dangerous part of the walking perimeter trail.
“It’s dangerous, it’s narrow, it’s falling apart and there is actually a hole in it,” she said of the dike.
“It is not unfeasible that that part of the dike could be breached very easily if we had a high run off… It has had nothing done to it in 15 years and I would really like to see it upgraded.”
Chief Administrative Officer Michael Glavin says the hole is “not a concern with regards to the structural integrity of the dike.”
“The hole is a tripping hazard, however the dike itself is sound,” he said.
“Although the dike is narrow, there is a concrete retaining wall which supports the dike stricter on the land side.”
The District budgets $30,000 annually for dike maintenance but Glavin says this section of the dike has not been worked on for some time.
But District of Houston staff agree that the section of the dike needs improvement, he said.
They are preparing a report to council for February regarding the upgrade, which includes increasing the width of the berm and adding armour to the waterside of the dike.
